Side ported well casing apparatus



March 10, 1953 F. H. LEE 2,630,998

SIDE PORTED WELL CASING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24. 1947 A 7' TORNEI/S Patented Mar. 10, 195.3

SIDE PORTED WELL CASING APPARATUS Francis Hampton Lee, San Pedro, Calif., assgnor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 24, 1947, Serial No. 730,343

16 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to side ported apparatus adapted to form part of a casing or liner string positioned in a well bore, and especially designed for controlling flow of fluids through the side ports.

An object of the invention is to provide side ported apparatus connectible in a casing string, whose ports can be positively opened and closed by manipulation of the casing string, and whose external diameter is not substantially greater than the normal outside diameter of the casing string joints.

Another object of the invention is to provide side ported casing apparatus, whose ports can be opened fully without restriction to fluid ow therethrough by manipulation of the casing string, of which the apparatus forms a part, and whose portsvcan then be closed in response to manipulation of the casing string.

A further object of the invention is to provide side ported apparatus connectible in a casing string, whose ports are closed initially by an external sleeve movable upwardly to port opening position in response to downward movement of the casing string.

This invention has other objects and aspects which will become apparent from a consideration of the embodiment shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specilication. This form will now be described in detail, but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limited sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal View, partly in section and partly in elevation, of an apparatus connected in a casing string, with its parts in the position they occupy when running the apparatus with the casing string in a well bore.

Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal section of the apparatus, with its parts in side port opening position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the side Dorts reclosed.

As illustrated in the drawings, a collar A is connected to upper and lower casing sections B, C of a casing string to hold `them in longitudinal spaced relation and to `constitute part of the casing string itself. Although specic reference is made in this specification to a casing string, it is to be understood that the invention may also be incorporated in liner and other conduit strings positioned in well bores.

1 Thecollar includes an upper inner tubular member I0 whose upper box end II is threaded onto the lower end of the upper casing section B, and a lower outer tubular member I2 whose lower pin end I3 is threaded into the lower casing section C. The upper and lower tubular members lil, I2 are connected together by means of interengaging external and internal straight threads I4, I5, which are preferably of right hand. The external threads I4 on the upper member Il! merge into an externally threaded tapered lower portion I6 designed to engage companion internal threads I'I on the lower member I2 extending from and below its internal straight threaded portion I5. The pitch and lead of the tapered threads is the same Aas that of the straight threads I4, I5.

The lower member I2 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged ports I8 positioned adjacent or through the tapered threaded portion I1, or at some other convenient point therein below the initial location of the lower end IS of the upper member I. These ports I8 may be closed initially by the lower portion 20 of an outer sleeve 2| disposed over them and engaging side seals 22 within ring grooves 23 in the lower member I2. The sleeve 2| extends upwardly along the lower member I2 and also along the upper member IIJ, with its upper end 24 having slidable sealing engagement with a seal ring 25, such as a round rubber ring, carried within a ring groove 25 in the upper member.

The sleeve 2| is threadedly connected to the upper tubular member I0 by straight internal threads 2l engaging companion external threads 28 on the upper member, disposed above its other straight threaded portion I4. The threaded connection 27, 28 between the upper member and outer sleeve is also preferably of right hand, but having a lead substantially greater than the lead on the lower threaded connection. For example, the lead of the threaded connection 21, 28 between the upper member I0 and sleeve 2l may be twice as great as the straight threaded connection I4, I5 between the upper and lower members I0, I2, and although the thread pitches may be the same, the sleeve connection to the member I0 can be constituted by a, double or other multiple thread. The sleeve 2I is adapted for upward longitudinal sliding movement along the lower member I2 upon rotation of the casing string and the upper tubular member I0, being guided in such movement by a longitudinally extending key 29 Welded, or otherwise secured, within the sleeve and receivel within a keyway 30 in the lower memberl In the assembly of the apparatus, the sleeve 2| is threaded on the inner tubular member IG and the latter is threaded within the outer tubular member I2 until its lower end IS is disposed a substantial distance above the side ports I8. The outer sleeve 2| is then threaded downwardly on the inner member II] until its internal shoulder 3| abuts the upper end 32 of the lower member' I2. which places the lower portion 2li of the sleeve completely over the .ports I8 and in sealing engagement with the seal rings 22 disposed on both sides of the ports. The key 2S may now be inserted through the outer Sleeve 2| into the keyway 30 in the lower member I2, and the key then welded to the outer sleeve. It is to be noted that the abutting of the sleeve and lower member, and the diierent threaded connections between the upper member and the lower member and sleeve precludes unscrewing of the two members Iii, I2 from each other and prevents separation of the lower casing string from the upper string.

The collar A assembled in the manner just described is connected to the upper and lower casing sections B, C and lowered with the casing string into a well bore to the desired depth. The parts now occupy the position exemplified in Fig. l, in which the sleeve 2| positively closes the ports I8 against passage of Iluids in both directions between the interior and exterior of the apparatus. Fluids may now be circulated down through the casing string and will pass through the collar for exhaustion from the casing string at some lower point therein, as from a shoe (not shown) at its lower end. A charge of cement slurry, or other cementitious material, may now be pumped down the casing string and through the collar A for ejection from the shoe and for upward passage through the annulus around the casing string toward the collar.

After the lower charge of slurry has taken its initial set, and preferably has hardened, the tu bular string is rotated from the top of the well bore to eiect opening of the ports I8. Since the hardened cement restrains the casing string below the collar A and the lower tubular member I2 attached thereto from rotating, the turning oi' the upper casing string to the right threads the upper tubular member Iii downwardly within the lower tubular member I2. Since the lower tubular member is prevented from turning by the I hardened cement, the outer sleeve 2|, connected thereto by the slidable key connection 29, 30 is also prevented from turning. However, the outer sleeve may slide longitudinally of the lower member I2, and such sliding action occurs in an upward direction upon rotation of the upper tubular member I to the right, in view of the righthand threaded connection 2, 28 between the outer sleeve 2| and upper member III.

As indicated above, by way of example, the threads 21, 28 connecting the outer sleeve 2| and upper member I0 have twice the lead of the threads I d, I connecting the upper member I0 and the lower member I2. As a result, for each revolution of the upper member, the outer sleeve 2| is moved longitudinally upwardly along the upper member II) twice the distance that the upper` member is moving downwardly within the lower tubular member I2. The net result is an elevation of the sleeve 2| along the lower tubular member I2, as the upper casing string is rotated in a righthand direction a distance equal to the pitch of the threads I4, I5 for each revolution of the upper member I0. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that the rotation of the upper tubular member I0 a predetermined number of turns moves its lower end I9 downwardly toward the ports I8, but such lower end cannot be disposed across the ports to close them before the lower end of the outer sleeve 2| has moved oir the lower seal ring 22 and completely above the ports, in which position the latter are open (see Circulating fluid and cement slurry may now be pumped down the casing string for discharge from the collar through its open ports I8. Following the ejection of the required quantity of cement slur-ry, the upper casing string is again rotated to the right to feed the upper tubular member ill downwardly within the lower tubular member I2 to engage the tapered threaded portions I6, il on the upper and lower members and wedge the lower portion I6 of the upper member ii) firmly into the tapered threaded portion I1 of the lower member I2. In this position the lower portion I6 just referred to is disposed completely across the ports I8 to positively close them against passage of fluids in both directions through the ports. The wedged engagement of the lower portion iS of the upper member within the tapered threaded portion II of the lower member provides a positive seal, preventing leakage therebetween (see Fig. 3).

For the purpose of insuring that the fluid in the annulus 33 between the sleeve 2| and the upper tubular member I0 is not trapped, and has a of escape during upward threading of the sleeve along the upper member, a longitudinal bleeder slot or groove 34 may be milled along the external threads 23 in the upper member I0 to a slight distance below its thread roots, allowing the fluid to fdow through the threaded connection 2i, 23 between the upper member and sleeve 2i. Similarly, a bleeder groove 35 may be milled longitudinally along the lower external threads I on the upper tubular member Ill to allow the fluid just referred to to continue its downward flowing between the upper and lower members |23, I2 into the interior of the collar.

Since the sleeve 2| is not required for closing the ports I8 after it has been elevated to port opening position, it is unnecessary to maintain the keyed connection between the sleeve and the lower member I2 to prevent its rotation. Accordingly, the keyway or longitudinal groove 30 in the lower member need only be of a limited extent, allowing the key 2t welded to the sleeve 2| to ride upwardly completely out of the groove Sil, whereupon its further upward `feeding along the lower member I2 need not take place as the upper tubular member lil is threaded downwardly to wedge its tapered portion IB into the correspending tapered portion i'I in the low-er member l2, to reclose the ports I3 against passage of iluids in both directions.

The internal diameter through the collar apparatus A is substantially the same as, and, preferably, is no less than, the internal diameter through the casing sections comprising the casing string, in order to avoid introduction of any restricted portions in the casing string. As a result, the lower charge of cement slurry may be pumped through the collar apparatus A through use of the usual casing cementing plug, the latter passing through the collar in the same manner as it moves through the casing sections.

It is further to be noted that the arrangement described enables the outside diameter of the apparatus, which is the outside diameter of the sleeve 2|, to be very little greater than the outside diameter of the usual casing Icouplings or joints, therefore allowing the apparatus to be employed in well bores whose diameter is relatively close to the outside diameter of the casing couplings.

It is apparent, therefore, that a side ported well casing or conduit apparatus has been provided in which the side ports I8 may be fully opened without the provision of any restrictions to full flow therethrough, simply through manipulation of the casing string from the top of the well bore. Such manipulation, or right-hand rotation, feeds the casing string and the upper tubular member i8 connected thereto in a downward direction in order to take advantage of the force of gravity, but, at the same time, results in upward longitudinal movement of the outer sleeve 2l completely away from closed po sition over the ports i8, allowing free circulation therethrough. When it is desired to reclose the ports, rotation of the casing string in the same right-hand direction is continued to eect the positive closure across the ports; one which will not leak.

The broad aspects or the invention disclosed herein, particularly those relating to the downward threading of the upper tubular member l0 within the lower tubular member i2 and the wedging of the lower portion iii of the upper member within the companion tapered portion I l of the outer member, are described and claimed in my copending application for Well Cementing Apparatus, executed on February 14, 1947, Serial No. 730,342, filed February 24, 1947.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described, including rst and second tubular members telescopically arranged with respect to one another and adapted to form part of a casing string, each of said members having means for attaching such member to a casing section, said first member having a port, means movable with respect to said members and extendible over said port for closing the same, and means providing an interconnection between said port closing means and second member which produces relative shifting of said port closing means and second member in opposite directions, movement of said second member in one direction with respect to said port closing means acting through said interconnection to move said port closing means simultaneously in the opposite direction relative to said iirst member.

2. Apparatus of the character described, including rst and second tubular members telescopically arranged with respect to one another and adapted to form part of a casing string, each of said members having means for attaching such member to a casing section, said first member having a port, said second member being movable with respect to said rst member, a sleeve movable with respect to said members and extending over said port to close the same, and means providing an interconnection between said sleeve and second member which produces relative shifting of said sleeve and sec- .ond member in opposite directions, movement of said second member in one direction with respect to said iirst member acting through said interconnection to move said sleeve simultaneously in the opposite direction relative to said first member.

3. Apparatus of the character described, including first and second tubular members telescopically arranged with respect to one another and adapted to form part of a casing string, each of said members having means for attaching such member to a casing section, said first member having a port, a sleeve movable with respect to said members and extending over said port to close the same, means providing an axial connection between said members in order that rotation of said second member will shift said second member longitudinally of said rst meniber, means providing a threaded connection between said sleeve and second member in order that rotation and longitudinal movement of said second member in one direction with respect to said rst member will simultaneously move said sleeve longitudinally in the opposite direction along said iirst member to port opening position, and means engaging said sleeve to restrain its rotation.

4. Apparatus of the character described, including iirst and second tubular members adapted to form part of a casing string, each of said members having means for attaching such member to a casing section, means providing an axial connection securing said members together in telescopic relation with respect to each other in order that rotation of said second member will shift said second'member longitudinally of said iirst member, said iirst member having a port, a sleeve movable with respect; to said members and extending over said port to close the same, means providing a threaded connection between said sleeve and second member which effects upward movement of said sleeve along said second member to port opening position simultaneously with downward movement of said second member with respect to said rst member, and means engaging said sleeve to restrain its rotation.

5. Apparatus of the character described, including first and second tubular members adapted to form part of a casing string, means providing a threaded connection between said members securing them together in telescopic relation with respect to each other, said rst member having a port, a sleeve adapted to extend over said port to close the same, and means providing a threaded connection between said sleeve and second member permitting relative rotation between said sleeve and second member and having a different lead than the lead of said threaded connection securing said rst and second members together, and means for resisting rotation of said sleeve in order that said sleeve is movable along said first and second members in response to rotation of said second member.

6. Apparatus of the character described, including rst and second tubular members adapted to form part of a casing string, means providing a threaded connection between said members securing them together in telescopic relation with respect to each other, said iirst member having a port, a sleeve slidably keyed to said rst member and adapted to extend over said port to close the same, and means providing a threaded connection between said sleeve and second member permitting relative rotation between said sleeve and second member and having a diierent lead than the lead of said threadedV connection securing said iirst and second members together.

7. An apparatus of the character described, including upper and lower tubular members adapted to form part of a casing string, means providing a righthand threaded connection between said members securing them together in telescopic relation with respect to-each other, said lower member having a port, a sleeve slidably keyed to said lower member and adapted to er;- tend over said port to close the same, and means providing a righthand threaded connection between said sleeve and upper member permitting relative rotation between said sleeve and upper member and having a greater lead than the lead of said threaded connection securing said rst and second members together.

8. Apparatus of the character described, including an upper tubular member telescoped within a lower tubular member to provide part of a casing string, means providing a righthand threaded connection between said members, said lower member having a port, sleeve slidably keyed to said lower member and extending over said port to close the same, and means providing a righthand threaded connection above said iirst mentioned threaded connection between said sleeve and upper member permitting relative rotation between said sleeve and upper member, said sleeve and upper member threaded connection having a greater lead than the lead of said threaded connection securing said members together.

9. Apparatus of the character described, including rst and second tubular members telescopically arranged with respect to one another and adapted to form part of a casing string, each of said members having means for attaching such member to a casing section, said first meinber having a port, means on the exterior of said rst member movable with respect to said members and extendible over said port ior closing the same, and means providing an interconnection between said port closing means and second member which produces relative shifting of said port closing means and second member in opposite directions, movement of said second member in one direction with respect to said first member acting through said interconnection to move said port closing means simultaneousiv in the opposite direction relative to said first member.

i0. Apparatus of the character described, including drst and second tubular members telescoplcaliy arranged with respect to one another and adapted to form part of a casing string, each of said members having means for attaching such member to a casing section, said rst member having a port, a sleeve on the exterior of said rst member movable with respect to said members and extending over said port to close the same, and means providing an interconnection between said sleeve and second member which produces relative shifting of said sleeve and second member in opposite directions, movement of said second member in one direction with respect to said rst member acting through said interconnection to move said sleeve simultaneously in the opposite direction relative to said iirst member to port opening position.

11. Apparatus of the character described, including first and second tubular members telescopically arranged with respect to one another and adapted to form part of a casing string, each of said members having means for attaching such member to a casing section, said rst member having a port, a sleeve on the exterior of said rst member movable with respect to said members and extending over said port to close the same, means providing an axial connection between said members in order that rotation of said second member will shift said second member longitudinally of said irst member, means providingf a threaded connection between said sleeve and second member which effects longitudinal movement of said sleeve to port opening position in a direction opposite to which said second member is moved longitudinally with respect to said iirst member upon rotation of said second member, and means engaging said sleeve to restrain its rotation.

12. Apparatus of the character described, including first and second tubular members adapted to form part of a casing string, each of said members having means for attaching such member to a casing section, means securing said members together in telescopic relation with respect to each other in order that rotation of said second member will shift said second member longitudinally of said nrst member, said rst member having a port, a sleeve on the exterior of said first member movable with respect to said members and extending over said port to close the same, means providing a threaded connection between said sleeve and second member which eiects upward movement of said sleeve to port opening position upon downward movement of said second member with respect to said rst member, and means engaging said sleeve to restrain its rotation.

13. Apparatus of the character described, including rst and second tubular members adapted to form part of a casing string, each of said members having means for attaching such member to a casing section, means providing a threaded connection between said members securing them together in telescopic relation with respect to each other, said rst member having a port, a sleeve movable with respect to said members and adapted to extend over said port to close the same, means providing a threaded connection between said sleeve and second member permitting relative rotation between said sleeve and second member and having a different lead than the lead of said threaded connection securing said nrst and second members together, and means for relatively rotating said members and sleeve longitudinally along both of said members and said members longitudinally with respect to each other.

14. Apparatus of the character described, including rlrst and second tubular members adapted to form part of a casing string, means providing a threaded connection between said members securing them together in telescopic relation with respect to each other, said rst member having a port, a sleeve adapted to extend over said port to close the same, means providing a threaded connection between said sleeve and second member permitting relative rotation between said sleeve and second member and having a diierent lead than the lead of said threaded connection securing said rst and second members together, and means resisting rotation of said sleeve relative to said first member.

15. Apparatus of the character described, including rst and second tubular members adapted to form part of a casing string, means providing a threaded connection between said members securing them together in a telescopic relation with respect to each other, said first member having a port, a sleeve adapted to extend over said port to close the same, means providing a threaded connection between said sleeve and second member permitting relative rotation between said sleeve and second member and having a different lead than the lead of saidithreaded connection securing said first and second members together, and means on lead of said threaded connection securing said said sleeve engaging said rst member to resist rst and second members together. rotation of said sleeve with respect to said rst FRANCIS HAMPTON LEE. member.

16. Apparatus of the character described, in- REFERENCES CITED cludmg upper and lower ubular, members The following references are of record in the adapted to form part of a casing string, means fue of this patent. providing a threaded connection between said members securing them together in telescopic UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS relation with respect to each other, said lower 10 Number Name Date member having a port. a sleeve adapted to extend 538,554 Siebert Apr. 30, 1895 over said port to close the same, means providing 1,150,641 Smith Aug. 17, 1915 a slidable spline connection between said sleeve 1,972,408 Nixon Sept. 4, 1934 and lower member, and means providing a 2,037,896 Haines Apr. 21, 1936 threaded connection between said sleeve and 15 2,214,555 Hayward Sept. 10, 1940 upper member permitting relative rotation be- 2,222,675 Lynger Nov. 26, 1940 tween said sleeve and upper member, said lastmentioned threaded connection being of the FOREIGN PATENTS same hand as said first-mentioned threaded Number Country Date connection and having a greater lead than the 20 274,500 Italy of 1930 

